While the clock began to wind down on FC Dallas’ 2-0 win over the Philadelphia Union, dark clouds began to lurk over Toyota Stadium. As the clouds rolled in, Fabian Castillo tried a shot that he drug just wide of the far post.

What a punch to the gut. Finally, going into a playoff series with a sense of momentum after beating the “favored” Sounders, a lot of the FC Dallas faithful rightfully felt like a chance to host and win MLS Cup was in the offing.

But with a late goal in Portland, the Timbers made it 3-1 after the first leg and Dallas could only muster a 2-2 tie in Texas, and it is Portland on their way to play Columbus in the Final. Ironically, had Dallas found a way to not give up that late goal in Portland, and somehow find a way to not give up a second goal in Dallas, the Texas fans could have been privy to another thrilling finale in either extra time or kicks from the mark, and it would have been Oscar Pareja’s side hosting the Crew in the Final.

Alas, it was not to be. But as disappointing as things feel – and certainly, to get so close after having the best record in the Western Conference – there are bags of reasons to feel good about this team going forward. To be sure, there are some improvements that need to be made, and we will touch on them here too, but the list of positives is much longer. So let’s grab a few quick surface-level comments about this year in FC Dallas.

What a fantastic night for FC Dallas and its fans. The crowd – including its makeup as well as its size – the opponent, the game situation. Clearly, it was the biggest moment in franchise history, and it will likely be even bigger for the next home game barring a complete collapse by FCD in Portland. Soak it in, folks. This is a game changer, even moreso than what the team went through in 2010.

There is so much to digest and discuss from this one. Ultimately, it was FC Dallas prevailing in kicks from the mark in dramatic fashion, after absolute belam in the last ten minutes of regulation. The range of emotions that everyone went through was as wide as you will see in professional sports.

And the list of heroes for Dallas is long. Very long. Yes, Jesse Gonzalez tops the list with Walker Zimmerman right behind him, but it took hard work over 120 minutes from the entire team to wear Seattle down to where the goals came when Dallas needed them.Continue reading →

FC Dallas comes into Sunday’s game against the Seattle Sounders down, 2-1, in the home and away series that will decide this Western Conference Semifinal.

This means Dallas not only has to win, but due to the away-goals rule, has to win by either 2 or more goals or by a 1-0 scoreline to advance. If Dallas wins 2-1 in regulation, the series will go to an overtime period, followed by kicks from the mark, if necessary.

The big question is can Oscar Pareja and his players find a way to crack the inevitable bus that the Sounders are going to park in front of their goal. Considering the scoreline, available players and styles of play, you pretty much can bet the house that Sigi Schmidt will have his team do all they can to keep their shape compact and close to goal as any tie puts them through, and other than a 1-0 loss, any one goal loss either keeps them alive or puts them through.

After closing out the regular season with a 2-1 win over the San Jose Earthquake, the battered FC Dallas return to action after a week rest to face the Seattle Sounders in leg one of the Western Conference semi-finals. This is where things start to get really serious.

With FC Dallas clinching the #1 seed in the Western Conference, the club has clinched a first round bye, something they could not avoid last year. Captain Matt Hedges more than welcomes the week rest […]

And with this, the best regular season in FC Dallas history comes to a close. 60 points, and a questionable penalty in Chicago the difference between Dallas being the Supporters Shield winners and it ultimately going to the New York Red Bulls.

The broad stroke view is pretty exciting, but also probably worth its own article. For now, let’s focus on the specific game that was yesterday and what takeaways we have in front of us, and there were a lot of really good ones.Continue reading →

The regular season finale was not necessarily a fantastic performance, but yet another solid performance against a good San Jose Earthquakes side who very well could have been in the playoffs. No one player stood […]